Good Enough

On the Bodhisattva path we are striving to save all beings. We are trying to put all other thoughts aside and just work for the benefit of all.

But sometimes we forget to include ourselves.

We’re taught to not judge others, to avoid looking down on them, to recognize their experiences are different from ours.

To each their own. Harmony in a world of difference. These are good things. Judgments tear people apart in ways that few other things can. Avoiding judgment is good. Judgment represents aversion, one of the three poisons that the Buddha warned us about. If we can avoid judging other people that is wonderful.

But I think sometimes we forget to avoid judging ourselves.

I’m bad at managing money. I’m not very good looking. I’m broken. I’m not smart enough. I’m too selfish. I make only bad choices. I don’t have good abs. I’m not lovable. This or that person is better than me.

I’m not good enough.

These are my examples of self judgment. Most of us have these kinds of things sometimes. Maybe all of us do. Some of us have these kinds of thoughts a lot.

We don’t think of these kinds of thoughts as aggression, but they are. It’s not peaceful to think of ourselves in these ways.